A Salty Dog
Encyclopedia
A Salty Dog is an album
by the Rock
band Procol Harum
, released in June 1969. Having an ostensibly nautical theme, as indicated by its cover (a pastiche
of the famous Player's Navy Cut
cigarette
pack), interspersed with straight rock, blues and pop items A Salty Dog showed a slight change of direction from its predecessors, being thematically less obscure. The title track itself was the first Procol track to use sound effects and an orchestra, as would be referred to in the live album performance
some three years later. The musical tensions between the group and Robin Trower
were beginning to show in this album, and although his guitar sound remains integral to most of the tracks, Crucifiction Lane (featuring a rare Trower vocal), in retrospect, shows that Trower was already moving in a different direction from the rest of the band. Still this album is much more musically varied than the two previous albums, with 3 Fisher vocals and 1 by Trower.
The title track, backed with "Long Gone Geek", reached number 44 in the UK singles chart in 1969 and the album itself number 27 in the album chart. When Gary Brooker first played "A Salty Dog" at the piano for B.J. Wilson
, a sunbeam illumined Wilson's face and he told Brooker he thought it was the most beautiful song he had ever heard.
The album was the first record produced by Matthew Fisher, who quit the band soon after its release.
The song "A Salty Dog" was featured in the 1983
film Purple Haze
.
This song was also covered by Transatlantic
, on the 2-disc Special Edition of The Whirlwind
. It is sung by drummer Mike Portnoy
.
The following bonus tracks were included on a 1999 reissue by Westside (cat# WESM 534):
The 2009 released CD (SALVOCD020) version has different bonus tracks ;
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the Rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
, released in June 1969. Having an ostensibly nautical theme, as indicated by its cover (a pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
of the famous Player's Navy Cut
John Player & Sons
John Player & Sons, known simply as Player's, was a tobacco and cigarette manufacturer based in Nottingham, England. It is today a part of the Imperial Tobacco Group.-History:...
cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
pack), interspersed with straight rock, blues and pop items A Salty Dog showed a slight change of direction from its predecessors, being thematically less obscure. The title track itself was the first Procol track to use sound effects and an orchestra, as would be referred to in the live album performance
Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Procol Harum Live with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, by the UK band Procol Harum, was released in 1972; it was recorded at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on 18 November 1971. It is the band's best selling album, certified Gold by the RIAA...
some three years later. The musical tensions between the group and Robin Trower
Robin Trower
Robin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...
were beginning to show in this album, and although his guitar sound remains integral to most of the tracks, Crucifiction Lane (featuring a rare Trower vocal), in retrospect, shows that Trower was already moving in a different direction from the rest of the band. Still this album is much more musically varied than the two previous albums, with 3 Fisher vocals and 1 by Trower.
The title track, backed with "Long Gone Geek", reached number 44 in the UK singles chart in 1969 and the album itself number 27 in the album chart. When Gary Brooker first played "A Salty Dog" at the piano for B.J. Wilson
B.J. Wilson
Barrie James "B.J." Wilson was an English rock drummer.-Career:Born in Edmonton, London, England, Wilson was the drummer for Procol Harum. He did not play on their first hit "A Whiter Shade of Pale" , but joined the group soon afterwards...
, a sunbeam illumined Wilson's face and he told Brooker he thought it was the most beautiful song he had ever heard.
The album was the first record produced by Matthew Fisher, who quit the band soon after its release.
The song "A Salty Dog" was featured in the 1983
1983 in film
-Events:*February 11 - The Rolling Stones concert film Let's Spend the Night Together opens in New York*May 25 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy, is released. Like the previous films, it goes on to become the top grossing picture of...
film Purple Haze
Purple Haze (film)
Purple Haze is a 1982 dramedy about Matt Caulfield, a college student who is expelled for smoking cannabis, and subsequently drafted to Vietnam in the summer of 1968.- Plot summary :...
.
This song was also covered by Transatlantic
Transatlantic (band)
Transatlantic is a progressive rock supergroup consisting of Roine Stolt of The Flower Kings, Pete Trewavas of Marillion, Mike Portnoy formerly of Dream Theater and Neal Morse formerly of Spock's Beard. They formed in 1999 as a side project to their full time bands until 2002...
, on the 2-disc Special Edition of The Whirlwind
The Whirlwind
-Special edition bonus disc:*Note - "Soul Sacrifice" ends at 8:38, followed by silence and a hidden track.-Personnel:Transatlantic*Neal Morse — keyboards, acoustic guitars, percussion, and vocals*Mike Portnoy — drums and vocals...
. It is sung by drummer Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...
.
Track listing
- "A Salty Dog" – 4:41 (Gary BrookerGary BrookerGary Brooker, MBE, is an English singer, songwriter, pianist and founder of the rock band Procol Harum. Brooker was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 14 June 2003, in recognition of his charitable services.-Early life:Brooker was born in...
/Keith ReidKeith ReidKeith Reid is a songwriter who wrote the lyrics of every Procol Harum song that is not a cover...
) – Brooker vocal - "The Milk of Human Kindness" – 3:47 (Gary Brooker/Keith Reid) -Brooker vocal
- "Too Much Between Us" – 3:45 (Gary Brooker/Robin TrowerRobin TrowerRobin Leonard Trower , known professionally as Robin Trower, is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio.-Biography:...
/Keith Reid) -Brooker vocal - "The Devil Came From Kansas" – 4:38 (Gary Brooker/Keith Reid) -Brooker vocal
- "Boredom" – 4:34 (Gary Brooker/Matthew FisherMatthew FisherMatthew Fisher is an English organist and singer-songwriter, and was responsible for the organ sound on the 1967 single, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum.-Biography:...
/Keith Reid) -Fisher vocal - "Juicy John Pink" – 2:08 (Robin Trower/Keith Reid) -Brooker vocal
- "Wreck of the Hesperus" – 3:49 (Matthew Fisher/Keith Reid) -Fisher vocal
- "All This and More" – 3:52 (Gary Brooker/Keith Reid) -Brooker vocal
- "Crucifiction Lane" – 5:03 (Robin Trower/Keith Reid) -Trower vocal
- "Pilgrim's Progress" – 4:32 (Matthew Fisher/Keith Reid) -Fisher vocal
The following bonus tracks were included on a 1999 reissue by Westside (cat# WESM 534):
- "Long Gone Geek" – B-Side of the single release of "A Salty Dog"
- "All This And More"
- "The Milk Of Human Kindness" (instrumental version)
- "Pilgrim's Progress" (instrumental version)
- "McGreggor" – previously unreleased track, originally intended for "Shine On BrightlyShine on BrightlyShine on Brightly, by the UK band Procol Harum, was released in 1968 and consolidated the success of their debut album; it was influential in the development of progressive rock by breaking all pop and rock music standards with the 17-minute epic "In Held Twas in I", which marked the beginning of...
" - "Still There'll Be More"
The 2009 released CD (SALVOCD020) version has different bonus tracks ;
- "Long Gone Geek" (Reid/Brooker/Fisher)
- "Goin' Down Slow" (James B. Oden) (live in the USA, April 1969)
- "Juicy John Pink" (Trower/Reid) (live in the USA, April 1969)
- "Crucification Lane" (Trower/Reid)(live in the USA, April 1969)
- "Skip Softly (My Moonbeams) / Also Sprach Zarathustra" (Brooker/Reid)/(Richard Strauss)(live in the USA, April 1969)
- "The Milk of Human Kindness" (Brooker/Reid)(take 1; raw track)
Musicians and Production
- Gary Brooker: vocals, piano, celeste, three stringed guitar, bells, harmonica, recorder, wood
- Robin Trower: lead guitar, vocals (09), acoustic guitar, sleigh tambourine
- Dave Knights: bass guitar
- Barrie Wilson: drums, conga drums, tabla
- Matthew Fisher: organ, vocals (05, 07, 10), marimba, acoustic guitar, piano, recorder, rhythm guitar
- Kellogs: bosun's whistle, refreshments
- Keith Reid: words
- Orchestral arrangements: Gary Brooker (01, 08), Matthew Fisher (07)
- Produced by Matthew Fisher
- Engineered by Ken Scott (01–05, 08–10), Ian Stuart (06) and Henry Lewy (07)
External links
- ProcolHarum.com – ProcolHarum.com's page on this album
- http://www.procolharum.com/xphalbum3_plus.htm – Extra tracks on reissue
- Review of this album in Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine.